![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/print-studio-chi-768x1024.jpg\")
An intern stands next to a decal she helped make for a business at Print Studio 2603 W. North Ave., in Humboldt Park during her summer internship. Credit: Provided<\/p>\nHUMBOLDT PARK \u2014 Demetrius Brown, 19, has spent most of his summer commuting from Morgan Park to Humboldt Park three times a week for his job at a print studio.<\/p>\n
Each leg of Brown\u2019s commute is two hours on public transportation, but it\u2019s worth the trip, he said.<\/p>\n
Under Jona Siko\u2019s guidance, Brown has been learning about printing, marketing, accounting and analytics at Siko\u2019s Print Studio, 2603 W. North Ave. in Humboldt Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never did anything in this kind of area \u2014 from making banners to even looking at things coming out the printers to be on the car \u2014 but that\u2019s cool,\u201d Brown said on a recent afternoon while working. \u201cNow I\u2019m doing books and all that stuff. So I\u2019m doing printing a lot and other things that could further help my career choices.\u201d <\/p>\n
Brown is one of eight youth who worked for Siko as part of One Summer Chicago, the city\u2019s youth employment initiative, which ends this week.<\/p>\n
An intern stands next to a decal she helped make for a business at Print Studio 2603 W. North Ave., in Humboldt Park during her summer internship. Credit: Provided<\/p>\n
Having the kids help run the business has been a blessing, Siko said. She opened her print shop in December<\/a> and has been growing her roster of clients, offering print and banner services, decals, business signs and more.<\/p>\n With the interns\u2019 help, Siko has been able to get more work done while teaching them skills like how to use social media, create and print designs, work with other business owners and promote themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cAny extra pairs of hands is a huge help because I wouldn\u2019t be able to afford having extra eight employees,\u201d Siko said. \u201cTo delegate tasks, such as Sam [Vargas] editing social media videos, which would take me hours, is huge because then I could focus on something else. It\u2019s been fun; they\u2019re giving me new ideas, which is extremely helpful. They know what I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Siko plans to sign up with One Summer again next year.<\/p>\n Samantha Vargas, 19, who commuted to the print shop with her friend and fellow intern Elizabeth Sanchez, 19, from suburban Elmwood Park, has enjoyed learning skills from Siko, like how to effectively use social media and interact with clients. As a marketing major at Wright College, the internship was a perfect fit.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my first opportunity that\u2019s for the experience and what I am studying,\u201d said Vargas, who is from Mexico. \u201cIt has also helped me to speak more English and get better.\u201d<\/p>\n As the youth prepare to head back to their respective colleges, they are grateful for the experience and for being able to make connections that can help them grow into their careers, they said.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to work while I was out of school for summer vacation and have something to preoccupy my time so I wouldn\u2019t just be at home or outside 24\/7,\u201d Brown said. \u201cIt was a new door that was opened for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Sanchez, who came to the Chicago area from Ecuador two years ago, said the internship has been a valuable experience. She\u2019s learned how to make business flyers, print signs and better her work ethic.<\/p>\n \u201cI am getting experience in the workforce, and it\u2019s a way to have my own money to support my family and learn new skills,\u201d Sanchez said.<\/p>\n Growth Challenges<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/sam-1-1024x576.jpeg\")
Samantha Vargas, 19, works on a social media post for Print Studio, 2603 W. North Ave., in Humboldt Park on July 2, 2025. Credit: Ariel Parrella-Aureli\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/35EDFB0A-EF36-4FC9-8934-EA18F4C717B2-1024x683.jpeg\")
Mayor Johnson helped with a resume-building activity at The Hope Center in Pullman to increase youth employment as part of the city\u2019s One Summer Chicago initiative on July 9, 2025. Credit: Noah Asimow\/Block Club Chicago<\/p>\n